Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1887-12-23

I
His heart had surrendered itself long
ago to her sweet face, of which fact
Mildred was not entirely ignorant.
The two sat down together, and Percy
Blake, with look of determination that
was almost stern, plunged headlong into
the subject that was uppermost in his
mind.
'Dear Mildred" he began, ''since
teaching in your fathers school have
found something that makes life seem
brighter than l ever thought 1t could
| be.n
Mildred experienced a little inward
trembling, and Immediately OWNED what
was coming.
'Tt is something" he continued,
earnestly, ''that has made me ambitious
and anxious above all things to be worthy
of great blessing"
"Ohl am sure you are both ambitious
nnd worthy she said, with a low,
wavering cadence.
''But not alone in my art" He
hesitated.
"No2" Her elastic temperament was
asserting itself, and her ayerted eyes,
while showing no displeasure, began to
flash forth enigmatic sparkles.
NO." he continued; THAT is but d
small thing. lam ambitious to be worthy
of you, and Iwant you for mine through
life"
He held her hand tightly, and waited
with wildly beating heart for reply.
1t came in a moment. Moving suddenly
from him, she arched her brows and ex.
claimed.
"Dear me, Mr.. Blake, how extremely
sudden, and how perfectly Gb asrt"
Her tone of voice was slightly elevated,
with just a tinge of naughty reproach,
and she had banished from her face every
vestige of expression save that of polite
surprise. He stared at her with dull
wonder, and his exhilaration rapidly
sank as if from a cruel blow
"Well, Miss Boyce," he at length said,
in sad and mortified tone, ''if the alb.
sardity of what have said impresses
you so strongly"
"Why, of course it does"
"Then there remains but one thing for
me to do, and that is to very humbly ask
your pardon. Goodnight"
There was resentment as well as regret
in his tone and manner as he rose and
moved toward the door, leaving Mildred
Boyce still seated.
"Oh, Professor Blake"
"Well2" he halted and looked back.
"Won't you wait just moment2
want you to show me something about
that ugly interrupted resolution les
son."
81 beg your pardon, Miss Boyce, but
l tried to make the subject as clear as
possible in class"
"Oh, but you told us TO come to you
if we stumbled on any knotty points.
"Very we'll" he replied, rather stiff1y,
''bring your music slate and pencil"
"Never mind them. Don't hold the
door open. Sit down at the piano by
me-"
He obeyed these commands, with q
dismal smile at her imperious tone.
"Now play the chords. There" Gas
she listined), "isn't that the place where
the resolution is interrupted
eyes"
"What a horrid place it would be to
stop!-wouldn't it2"
Certainly; we must progress some
thing like this"
"Wait! Don't play any more yet
What delightful state of suspense2-
don't you think so?"
'There is feeling of dissatisfaction
which"
"Ycs, know, just like the affecting
love story you were telling in the class. ,
Glove story!" in an indignant tone.
"Yes; when the novelist makes be
lieve everything is coming out wrong,
and then brings about happy ending
"Ah, l remember. l used it as al
l illustration.
"Well, now finish the lesson. DOM
dwell on that disagreeable minor chord
any loager."
Perry Blake humbly obeyed, and by a
series of skillful changes arrived at sat
isfactory ending on that tonic chord.
"There, that is better. 1t brings one
to sense of repose. 1 believe that is the
proper term"
Eyes"
"How different music and novels are
from real life !" said Mildred, with low
sigh.
q In what respect, Miss Boyce 2"
She looked at him from under heI
lashes. Why, the musician doesn't
stop when disappointment comes in the
shape of interrupted resolution, and
people in novels never give up when OBJ
stacles come before them"
"Well Z" Percy Blake was evidently
somewhat puzzled.
"But real people do"
"Do they ?" in listless tone.
"Of course they do. You do. You
turn away from your purpose just as soor
as the ic4st thing happens"
Percy Blake gave sudden start, An
electric shock seemed to dart through
his whole being, and wild look OF hope
came into his face. Selling both OF
Mildrcd's hands, he exclaimed: "Mil.
dred, do not triGe with me. Are you
sure You understand now much
love you9 Will you give me the right
to make it plain to you p
"Ah," she murmured, here is the
point of unrest againl Let the answer
be what you will. ""
The moist and lustrous eyes beamed
on him, and the pouting lips were SO
tempting and convtnient that he accept
ed the permission, and took his answer
in way that was altogether blissful
And thus, with the aid of his hcauti-
full pupil did Percy Blake find solution
to the most interesting problem in inter
rupted resolution that he had ever en-
countered. --Harper's Weekly
Race of Giauts.